Russia Just Test-Fired An Intercontinental Missile From A Submarine

Russian nuclear submarine Yuri Dolgorukiy is seen during the Navy Day Military parade on July, 27, 2014 in Severomorsk.
Sasha Mordovets/Getty Images
Russia has test-fired a Sineva intercontinental ballistic missile from a submarine in the Barents Sea as part of tests on the reliability of the navy's strategic forces.

The Russian Defense Ministry said the liquid-fuelled missile, capable of carrying nuclear warheads, was fired by the submarine "Tula" and targeted a testing range in the Kamchatka region on the Pacific Ocean.

The Sineva, which has a range of about 12,000 kilometers, became operable in 2007 as part of Moscow's efforts to shore up Russia's nuclear deterrent.

This test firing was the second ICBM launch from a Russian nuclear submarine in the past week.

President Vladimir Putin has underlined the importance of the nuclear deterrent during Moscow's standoff with the West over the Ukraine crisis.